The pioneer recipes for milk paint all had two things in common, Milk and lime. When combined they form a natural binding agent that is, in some ways, unmatched by today's modern coatings. Color can be added with any natural substance ( rust, berries etc.) or water soluble dye. The classic red barns are most likely the result of an abundance of milk and the availability of red pigments in the form of rust (iron oxide). Livestock blood was also added to milk to produce blood paint.

For this recipe I recommend powdered dyes found at art stores.
Experiment with dye quantity to achieve the color desired.

Basic Milk Paint Recipe:

For approx. 1.5 Gallons Milk Paint
One Gallon Skim Milk
Two Cups Builders Lime also called Hydrated Lime ( Do NOT use Quick Lime)
One Quart Linseed Oil ( the boiled type )
1/2 Cup of Salt
Dye (Color) add in as needed

Strain with cheesecloth or fine mesh screen wire
Use within Two Days of mixing

Strain with cheesecloth or fine mesh screen wire
Use within Two Days of mixing

Basic Whitewash Recipe

Add 5 pounds of Hydrated Lime ( do not use quick lime ) to 1 gallon of water. Allow to stand overnight. Dissolve 1 1/2 pounds of salt in 2 quarts of water and add to the lime water mixture with vigorous stirring. Optional: for exterior use add in 1-2 quarts of boilled linseed oil.